Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

He ultimately didn't ask the question aloud; he had already vaguely guessed the answer.

What followed was a profound sense of powerlessness.

If Zhang Wusheng's answer is "yes," what can his father do? Continue to patiently persuade him? Or break the right legs of both Zhang Lujiu and Zhang Honglu to make Zhang Wusheng feel some "fairness"?

But does such a distorted form of fairness have any semblance of legitimacy?

I thought and thought, but I couldn't come up with a reasonable answer.

Once words are spoken, they are like spilled water, never to be taken back. At least for this moment, Zhang Renfeng was glad that he had finally pulled back from the brink and hadn't stabbed himself with that knife, which would have hurt both the other party and himself.

----

"father?"

When Zhang Wusheng first saw his father with such a sorrowful expression, his long-held instinct to be "sensible" kicked in once again.

He instinctively pushed his father away.

"It's getting late. I'll be done here soon, so don't worry about me. Your health is the most important thing; you should go and get some rest."

"..." Zhang Renfeng looked at him deeply, pursed her lips, remained silent for a long time, and finally sighed, "Wusheng...you are too sensible, or rather, you are too worldly."

It's not a good sign that someone so young is acting so prematurely.

Zhang Wusheng calmly said, "If Father doesn't like it, I can change it."

……

“…Alright, you…you should get some rest too.” On the eve of the great battle, Zhang Renfeng didn’t want to put any more pressure on him. He sighed and patted his shoulder heavily. “After this matter is over, let’s find some time…to have a good talk and say everything.”

"There was no one else but my father and son."

"Me and you."

Chapter 952: A Woman's Heart

"Why aren't you eating?" Zhang Fulin looked at his three brothers at the table, all of them with solemn expressions, holding their cutlery and not moving. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong? Why do you all look so worried? What happened these past few days?"

……

After all, Zhang Fulin was a guest who had traveled from afar, so the matter of the assassins couldn't possibly involve him. But his brothers had all been entrusted with important tasks and hadn't had time to look after him these past few days.

He didn't seem to mind much; he bought a city map and went out for a stroll.

Of course, it wasn't really just wandering around aimlessly.

Except for Igor, who had to conceal his identity due to special circumstances and was unable to meet with Zhang Renfeng, Zhang Fulin met with almost all of the other old buddies who had risen to prominence with him: Mike, Calaway, Jimmy, Tao... as a way of paying his respects.

He brought a unique local specialty from his hometown—a gourd filled with wine. As the saying goes, "The more you drink, the more you have," and coincidentally, most of Zhang Renfeng's old comrades who had started their business together also enjoyed it. Especially combat personnel like Mike and Calaway, who were particularly addicted to alcohol.

His local specialty, which wasn't particularly expensive, quickly became a hit and won the favor of his old friends.

Anyway, as long as he didn't leave the city, with his black hair and face inherited from Zhang Renfeng, he would only see smiling faces wherever he went, and he didn't have to worry about getting lost. Over the course of a few days, he communicated and exchanged ideas with people from all walks of life, and even learned a couple of everyday phrases.

But for some reason, despite it being a long-awaited grand banquet, the brothers sitting next to me all looked rather strange.

Apart from Zhang Wusheng, his usual expression was always somber, and it didn't change at all now; in fact, he seemed normal.

"Today is a big day, they've been looking forward to it for a long time." Zhang Wusheng offered a plausible reason, "I didn't sleep well last night, so I'm not in much energy."

"Ha, I see... No wonder." Zhang Fulin smiled and didn't delve into it. "To be honest, the level of excitement surrounding this competition is almost comparable to the Spring Festival back home. With such a commotion, I wouldn't be able to sleep either."

These words were not merely polite formalities.

Baiju City boasts exceptionally developed transportation and is the birthplace of the automobile. Its massive population is unparalleled even in the entire southern region. This huge influx of people naturally brings considerable economic benefits, making the entire city vibrant and bustling.

This banquet was a sign that the grand event was about to begin. Over the years, along with the emergence of automobiles, they have spread throughout America. Racing culture, like horse racing in the past, has gradually become a new and highly sought-after pastime for young people.

Compared to horse racing, car racing is faster and offers a stronger sense of speed. When a dozen cars are racing simultaneously, the roar of their engines is even more awe-inspiring. Some are wealthy and have plenty of free time, willing to travel from all over the country to join in the excitement.

He didn't care what his brothers were thinking; at least for now, he preferred to enjoy this rare and grand event with the other guests.

----

"Mmm...delicious! That blockhead is really something, so you guys always secretly serve such good food at your banquets, and he never told me..."

Even knowing that the dwarf's body in front of him was occupied by another girl, Zhang Renfeng still felt strange and had an indescribable sense of incongruity as he watched "his" actions at this moment.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? No one else can hear me now, so of course I'm speaking in my natural voice. Imitating a male voice is exhausting." Yin shrugged. "When outsiders come, I'll handle things perfectly, I'll make sure it's seamless."

“No, no, don’t misunderstand, I’m not doubting your professional abilities. I just feel… a little…” Zhang Renfeng looked at “Igor” in front of him again and sighed, “To be honest, it’s a little creepy. The way you were sitting there just now was so much like him.”

"Isn't it good enough to look like it?" Yin said nonchalantly.

Back then, the concept of the uncanny valley didn't exist, and Zhang Renfeng didn't know how to express this eerie feeling. He shrugged, said nothing more, and focused on eating what was on his plate. But with his mind preoccupied, even the finest ingredients and the most exquisite dishes tasted bland in his mouth.

Zhang Renfeng glanced at his pocket watch; it was 4:50 PM.

The plan stated that [Petrificus] would send a signal around 17:20-17:30 PM to decide whether to continue the operation. In other words, he had to confirm Igor's condition beforehand. Igor's height became an advantage at this time—they were sitting on the inner side of the second floor, and his short stature was completely hidden by the tables, chairs, and railings in front of him.

To confirm his condition, one must personally climb the stairs, stand before the table, and visually inspect him. This period is precisely when Yin is needed to impersonate "Igor."

"Finally... someone who couldn't hold back has arrived." Zhang Renfeng's gaze darkened slightly as he watched the figure running up the stairs.

Could it be him?

----

"Hello, Mr. Igor, Mr. Zhang, please allow me to pay my highest respects to this magnificent city and to the Sanyuan Group."

He was wearing a white suit, had a flashy slicked-back hairstyle, and a red handkerchief folded into a corsage was placed in front of his breast pocket.

The man looked to be in his thirties or forties, sporting a stylish, curly mustache. His back was slightly hunched, giving him a somewhat obsequious air, but not overly ingratiating. It was the kind of expression that superiors wouldn't dislike, yet which was sufficiently submissive—just the right amount.

At this moment, he was holding a wine glass, his eyes darting around as he observed the expressions on his and Igor's faces.

Zhang Renfeng was familiar with this expression; he had seen far too many people like this along the way—acting like a grandson to superiors and like a devil to inferiors.

Perhaps it was out of habit, but he didn't have a good impression of this seemingly glib-tongued fellow. However, considering that Yin was ultimately a stand-in, he still proactively picked up his glass and said in a cool tone, "And a salute to you as well, you are..."

“Riemann Altztoré! You must remember me, I am the head of [Riemann Jewelry]. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to sponsor this racing competition!”

"Uh... oh, right, I remember now, you're the jewelers, aren't you?"

Normally, for a jeweler of Riemann's caliber, simply participating in a competition held within the city would be considered a great honor. However, here in White Torch City, far too many companies are vying to sponsor this competition.

This is the benefit of Henry's consistent development of "Bread and Circus." The competitions held in White Torch City already had a stable audience. They were wealthy, had leisure time, and had energy—a huge consumer group. A good result in the competition, or even just exposure for their brand, could generate excellent advertising benefits.

The reason Zhang Renfeng still remembered him was purely out of respect for Mike. Mike had mentioned that his granddaughter Holly especially loved jewelry and ornaments.

……

"Oh, right, to express my gratitude, I also brought a gift..."

He took out a small, exquisitely packaged, and very high-end box from his pocket.

A gemstone ring, sparkling under the light, lay there quietly.

"A small token of my affection, named 'Woman's Heart'. It weighs 7.62 grams, has a ring size of 52, and is adorned with a 1.8-carat diamond."

"As you can see, the main stone of this ring is an alexandrite that has been polished to a size of 75 points."

"...Why is it called that?" Zhang Renfeng couldn't help but ask.

"Ha, you're joking..."

Riemann hadn't expected that the man who had taken half of America's land and power would be so ignorant of these high-class luxuries. He thought Zhang Renfeng was intentionally giving him a chance to prove himself, and he felt even more grateful.

"Alexandrite is a special kind of stone that is green during the day and turns red at night. Therefore, it is also known as 'alexandrite'."

"Isn't it just like a woman's heart, different during the day and different at night?"

Chapter 953: A Glimpse of God onto Earth

"is it him?"

Yin wiped his mouth, staring at Riemann's departing figure, and muttered, "The 'peerless stone' they mentioned in their plan, is this the thing?"

"..." Zhang Renfeng looked at the ring, which shone brightly under the light, his expression solemn and noncommittal.

"maybe."

"Perhaps?" Yin was a little uneasy, but to avoid giving her subordinates any clues, she turned around very subtly and tapped the table. "Please, I thought you were all very professional. After all this time, it turns out you couldn't even recognize the enemy standing right in front of you?"

"I don't have mind-reading abilities, and besides..."

Zhang Renfeng stroked the smooth, angular surface of the ring and sighed, "I have to admit, this Blackwater Poison is indeed quite capable. The assassination plan they provided was incredibly detailed, with firepower configurations and location layouts showing an extreme familiarity with the city. This means that their informants and assassins have likely been planted in White Torch City all along."

"They didn't reveal a single flaw in all this time. If we hadn't intercepted the letter in the Blue Army camp, we wouldn't have found any clues at all."

"Such a strong and tightly organized force cannot be achieved by ordinary, loosely organized gangs. They must have some kind of code of conduct, akin to a belief..."

The poison of black water.

This ominous name always sent a chill down Zhang Renfeng's spine.

The sound of metal striking the ground brought him back to his senses. Yin, who was beside him, also sat up straight and entered performance mode.

The next visitor has arrived.

……

Good evening, gentlemen.

Dressed in a formal suit and tie, Elinis slowly made his way up to the second floor, leaning on his black cane. His gaunt body showed little sign of fatigue; he merely squinted and nodded slightly to the two men. Round glasses perched on his nose, their high prescription obscuring his eyes.

“I remember you are…the manager of Isabella Clothing Store, right?” Zhang Renfeng squinted and looked him up and down. “You are much more robust than you look.”

Suspicious, Zhang Renfeng held his breath and tried to listen to the man's heartbeat, but he couldn't detect anything amiss. The heartbeat was slow and weak, like a leaf slowly falling in the wind. Like his appearance, he seemed like an ordinary old man who posed no threat.

"Didn't anyone from your shop come with you?" Hidden in Igor's tone, in a teasing tone, asked, "Making a seventy or eighty-year-old climb up the stairs like this, in another state, could be considered elder abuse."

“Haha, not at all, Mr. Zolael, it was my request.” Elinis chuckled twice, shook his head, and said casually in a conversational tone, “I don’t have many years left to live… but I have a terrible temper. I don’t want to bother anyone until I’m completely immobile.”

He chuckled, barely concealing his amusement, "I hope that when I'm old, I'll have even a tenth of your ambition."

“It seems someone has already given you two a gift.” Elinis glanced at the gemstone on the table and smiled. “As expected of Mr. Riemann, he is still so generous… Such an alexandrite is rare on the market.”

"You know it?"

“Alexandrite, also known as white stone, was discovered about sixty years ago. Someone discovered its peculiarity: this stone takes on different appearances during the day and at night, which is quite magical,” Elinis said in a deep voice. “Just like… this country.”

"This country?"

"The United States of America, the country we live in, is both the Garden of Eden of paradise and an inescapable hell. In the end, it has always existed, but it appears in completely different ways in the eyes of different people."

"And what about this city?" Yin asked, mimicking Ego's tone. "You've been living in it for several years now. Do you think it's Eden or Hell?"

“Heh.” Faced with this somewhat tricky question, Elinis laughed. “To be honest, this city doesn’t seem like something that could exist on the land of the United States of America. It’s more like a… dream, a so-called ‘heaven on earth,’ a merciful glance that God cast upon the world over endless ages.”

Zhang Renfeng smiled and shook his head, "Your high praise makes me a little embarrassed."

“These are my true feelings, and…”

"All stories begin this beautifully, at least they do now."

Elinis took out a pre-prepared document from his satchel and handed it directly to Yin.

"..."

She felt somewhat awkward. Her English reading and writing skills were similar to Zhang Renfeng's before—she could only speak, not write. She could barely understand a single word of this document, but she still forced herself to imitate Igor and pretended to read it aloud.

Zhang Renfeng saw this and, in order to cooperate with her, pretended to wait a while before silently taking the plan from her hand.

"A trade fair for artisans in Baiju City?"

After reading the text aloud word by word, Zhang Renfeng raised an eyebrow. "A new event, huh? Are you going to organize it?"

"Especially now, as the world is rapidly entering the industrial age, the world of artisans is becoming increasingly precarious. They are becoming more and more anxious, afraid to fall asleep at night, fearing that if they close their eyes and open them again, the world will abandon them."

Elinis looked into their eyes and said with a smile, "Technology is a wonderful thing. It brings us closer together, but it also makes our hearts grow further apart."

“We will provide the venue for the event, and the event expenses will naturally come from us as well. I know the rules; normally, such city events should be submitted to the mayor's office according to procedure. But… given the actual situation, since you two are both here, I'd like to discuss with you whether my plan is feasible.”

When he said "given the actual circumstances," he was naturally referring to the mayor's office, headed by Dunn, which was essentially just a puppet of Igor and Zhang Renfeng. Dunn had some autonomy on less important issues, but activities requiring massive funding inevitably required Igor's approval to proceed.

That being said, those who can bypass Dunn and find both of them must be high-level players in the power arena of White Torch City.

"..."

Zhang Renfeng carefully examined the plan, mainly focusing on the handwriting. He compared it with the plan to assassinate Igor, and at least... the handwriting was different.

The assassination plan was written in such neat handwriting that it looked as if it had been written by a robot. Spanning dozens of pages, every letter was perfectly aligned and within the writing framework.